From the Couch

A Diagnosis After Twenty-Eight and a Half Years

Family, From the Couch, Novel News and Progress June 23, 2025 6 Comments

July 8th has always been special to me. It’s the date of my youngest sibling’s birthday. Of course, all my other siblings’ birthdays are special too. Later in life, July 8th became more special when I found out it was the birthday of one of my favorite aunt-in-laws!

July 8th secured its place in my affections one more time two weeks ago. On July 8, 2024, I got some big news. I finally received a diagnosis regarding my health! I was diagnosed with a condition that may be the root cause of my chronic health problems that started twenty-eight and a half years ago and that has kept me mostly housebound since 2008. […]

A prayer request from the couch

From the Couch July 9, 2017 22 Comments

This post is a departure from my planned writing, slow as that writing may be, to share a deep need for prayers. It is a request for prayers about my heath situation. Some of you who have been visiting Chapter 3 Ministries for a while or who know me in real life know that I have been living with a chronic nerve pain condition for many years. […]

Simulcast Review Update

Chapter Three, From the Couch September 26, 2015 6 Comments

I have had a couple of inquiries about if and when there would be a follow-up post regarding the Living Proof Live simulcast from September 12, 2015. Since almost two weeks have passed since then, I thought it might be a good idea to give an update here.

After viewing the simulcast, I did decide that I would write a review. There is a lot to cover, and I am being careful in my analysis. It is taking time and my health situation comes into play too, but I do hope to have it ready in a few weeks. Please pray for me as I work towards presenting a fair and thorough review. There are definitely some things worth writing about that I hope to share with you. […]

To be Bitter or to be Grateful

Family, From the Couch, God, The Christian Life March 12, 2017 6 Comments

Before I return to my series of posts on submitting in everything, I decided to take an opportunity to share something about life and our daughter’s wedding. The sky was blue, the air was warm, and there were smiles everywhere. The happy couple looked amazing. There were a few glitches during the day, something life has taught us to expect; but that was OK. So much of the day was absolutely beautiful; and more importantly, the Lord was magnified and glorified. It was a precious gift to see Rachel and her new husband begin their new life together in such a meaningful way. You may be wondering that if everything went so well, why is bitterness mentioned in the title of this post. How could it have anything to do with such a wonderful day? […]

Facing the Challenges of 2015

Children, Family, From the Couch, God, The Christian Life February 3, 2015 7 Comments

2015 promises to be a year to remember. This year our oldest is getting married and graduating from college and our youngest is graduating from High School. In case you are wondering, we only have two. 🙂 I have oftentimes affectionately referred to them as “my bookends”. I came up with this years ago because of the way they used to flank me on the couch when we were saying goodbye to their papa whenever he left to photograph a wedding. We have a couch right in front of a picture window that overlooks our driveway. As my husband was heading out, we would all kneel on the couch, with me in the middle, and watch as he got in his van and drove away. We would wave, tell him we loved him in sign language, and then pray for his safe return. I cherish those memories and hold tightly to them as this new year starts. […]

Expressing Thankfulness & The End Time Blog

Apologetics, Chapter Three, From the Couch, The Christian Life June 6, 2018 7 Comments

In the past six and a half years that I have been mostly housebound and ministering online, I have “met” a lot of people. They have been from different cultural backgrounds and have held a variety of beliefs. Whether it was Muslims in Egypt, a humanist in the Netherlands, or a sister in Christ from the Midwest, the Internet has been great for connecting me with people from all over the world. Some individuals that I have met stand out quite clearly in my mind. They made a lasting impression. I know that will be true about a woman I met recently. Her name is Elizabeth Prata. She is the author of The End Time blog. […]

Baring Our Souls at Church

From the Couch, God November 21, 2017 10 Comments

A special thing happened at church this past Sunday. My husband and I had the chance to testify to the goodness of God in the midst of suffering. We shared about our life situation regarding my chronic health problems and how God has sustained us through it all. It was a real blessing to be able to attend church again and to testify. We are so thankful that we had this opportunity.

This came about because my husband Butch sent an e-mail to the pastor. The pastor is currently preaching a series on suffering called “Hope in the Midst of Suffering: The Gospel According to Job”. Without me knowing about it, Butch wrote to him to share our story with him and to thank him for the series. […]

Powerful Help in Times of Suffering

From the Couch, God, Jesus, The Christian Life April 20, 2025 6 Comments

Suffering is universal. It is experienced by all who live and breathe upon our planet Earth. It cannot be avoided or paid off or scammed. It comes and for some it comes often and brutally. There are many ways to suffer be it emotionally, mentally, physically, or spiritually. I would not dare to choose which is the easiest to deal with, because suffering is very personal. Some of us can handle physical pain better than emotional or vice versa. In my mind, neither the type nor the amount of suffering can be truly weighed by anyone but the person experiencing it. When people apologize for telling me about their troubles in light of my own suffering, I always tell them there’s no need to apologize. Their troubles are troubles to them. They experience whatever sorrow or pain they do in their own being. If they think it’s bad, then I want to be there for them. I don’t minimize any suffering in light of another.

What I do try to do is share what has helped me through my trials with suffering due to chronic pain. […]

Our Last “Back to School”

Children, Family, From the Couch September 7, 2014 4 Comments

This past week students everywhere went back to school. New milestones were reached as some started their first day of kindergarten while others started high school. Our family reached our own milestone this past week. We have begun our final year of homeschooling! We started eighteen years ago with our daughter and now we are finishing with our son. He has begun his senior year.

It is not easy to describe what homeschooling has meant to me all these years. I believe it is one of the best decisions my husband and I have ever made. It was right for our family and has brought many blessings. […]

Father’s Day Testimony

Children, Family, From the Couch, Headship, Holidays, Jesus, Marriage March 19, 2020 2 Comments

Tomorrow is Father’s Day! It is a joy for me to come to my first Father’s Day after starting this site. That means I have a really good reason for writing about my husband, not that I need one. There is much that I could say about him and probably would if the world could endure it. He is an exemplary husband and father. In him I see the love of Christ poured out daily. […]

From the Couch

Chapter Three, Family, From the Couch, God, Salvation September 26, 2015 6 Comments

When I started this website I did not intend to write about my health situation. Though it does deeply impact my life every day, it was not what I wished to focus on. Recently my husband Butch suggested that it would be ok to write about it every now and then. I’ve thought about it, and I’ve become more comfortable with the idea. Sharing some of my experiences about this trial will allow me to testify to God’s mercy and grace. Through all my suffering, he has been my rock and my shield. He has provided for me in many ways. I am happy to share the details about that to his glory. […]